Draft Needs: San Francisco 49ers

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on May 4, 2014, 3:00 PM EDT

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With the NFL Draft approaching, we’re taking a team-by-team look at the needs of each club. Next up is the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers have made it to the NFC Championship game in each of the last three seasons but haven’t been able to get over the hump to win their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history. San Francisco enters the draft with 11 selections to utilize to fill in some holes in their depth and prepare for the future.

Cornerback: Behind Tramaine Brock, the 49ers have four cornerbacks that are scheduled to be free agents after next season. Even if Chris Cook, Eric Wright or another option steps up to earn the starting job opposite Brock, it’s likely just a short-term solution. Add in Chris Culliver’s arrest for hit-and-run that could affect his availability and it’s clear the 49ers need to add to the position.

Wide Receiver: The 49ers ranked 30th in the league last season in passing as injuries to Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham significantly stunted the offense. While Crabtree is back to full health, the receiving options for Colin Kaepernick are still limited behind Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. Behind Crabtree, Boldin and Brandon Lloyd, no other receiver on the roster has had more than 21 catches in a season in their career. With Crabtree, Lloyd, Jon Baldwin and Kasim Osgood all set to be free agents after this season, the 49ers are in serious need of long-term solutions at the position.

Center:Jonathan Goodwin started every game of the last three seasons at center for the 49ers. With Goodwin no longer on the roster, San Francisco has to find a replacement. Daniel Kilgore was given a contract extension this offseason and is likely first in line at the job. But guards Mike Iupati and Adam Snyder are set to be free agents after next season as well. With Kilgore’s ability to also play guard, the 49ers could add competition at center and provide depth at guard should Iupati and Snyder depart next offseason.

Linebacker: With Aldon Smith continuing to have off-field problems and NaVorro Bowman coming off an ACL tear, the 49ers likely will have to add depth at linebacker in the draft. While San Francisco elected to pick up Smith’s 2015 option, it’s currently guaranteed for injury only and the team could still elect to move on should he have continued offseason issues.

An insurance policy at inside linebacker could also be an option in order to hold the 49ers over until Bowman can get back onto the field.

Quarterback: Neither of the 49ers top two quarterbacks are under contract beyond next season. While Colin Kaepernick certainly appears to be the 49ers’ signal caller for the foreseeable future, he is seeking a massive contract extension. In addition, backup Blaine Gabbert has struggled in three seasons in the league with Jacksonville before being traded to the 49ers this offseason.

The 49ers should look to secure a more long-term backup option behind Kaepernick and have a potential fall back option should negotiations with Kaepernick prove problematic.

In your analysis you said the 49ers don’t have any wide receiver on their roster with more than 21 catches in a season besides Boldin & Crabtree, then you proceeded to mention Brandon Lloyd who once lead the league in receiving yards and definitely has seasons with more than 21 catches.

CB is a must that is our glaring need. But I hope they don’t go for the guys predicted to get selected in the first round. They need to grab tall, big bodied guys who can cover the long ball. Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Keith McGill would be prime.

As for receiver I think they can get Martavis Bryant in the second round, again we have Boldin (tough vet), Crabtree (YAC), Patton (slot guy). What we don’t have is a tall, fast receiver to stretch the field and take the top off of defenses.

Brandon Lloyd will be a good No.2/No.3 for a couple years.
CB depth is weak though. Shouldn’t have cut CB Lowell Rose in training camp last year..

bennyb82 says:May 4, 2014 3:17 PM

If Crabtree and Boldin stay healthy, and Brandon Lloyd isn’t too far from his 2012 self, this team has a pretty good set of wideouts. Add in Davis and they look great on paper. Long-term is another issue, but free agency can solve that pretty quickly.

trade that 2nd round pick back to KC to jump to 23 and take a better player

SF can’t afford to miss on AJ Jenkins type picks, they need to get better players as they have a window to win now and need to take advantage of that.

lurch61 says:May 4, 2014 3:29 PM

supremekingz says:
May 4, 2014 3:09 PM
In your analysis you said the 49ers don’t have any wide receiver on their roster with more than 21 catches in a season besides Boldin & Crabtree, then you proceeded to mention Brandon Lloyd who once lead the league in receiving yards and definitely has seasons with more than 21 catches.
——————————————————————————
Most definately mentioned lloyd:

“Behind Crabtree, Bolding and Brandon Lloyd, no other receiver on the roster has had more than 21 catches in a season…”

Love the LSU receiver Landry. He’s as physical as Boldin and faster with a 4.5 40- time at his pro day. Loves to compete and will devour DBs in the red zone like Q.
Should be available at top of the 2nd round.
I think he will be a better pro than his counterpart WR at LSU (OB Jr.) that’s getting more draft buzz and who will likely get snagged 10-15 in Rd 1.

Always take an SEC receiver when he’s there on the board. I think AJ Jenkins flopped because he never had to compete for playing time at Illinois, and never had to play vs. Bama, Auburn, Florida and LSU every October. He got a look at the NFL and was overwhelmed.

Baalke loves SEC players, with good reason.

49erstim says:May 4, 2014 3:49 PM

I agree that CB is a high priority. I’m not as worried about WR as much as I am CB at this point. SF needs to get back to leaning on a top flight defense. That means re-vamping that secondary.

thefiesty1 says:May 4, 2014 4:06 PM

Trade up and get Evans. He can catch everything thrown in his direction.

the 9’ers need to throw it all in for this year. They need to trade up in the first and second and get a decent receiver and db.
Seems like they are losing a good hunk of their roster next season.
Good luck with that in the NFC West.

killitandeatit says:May 4, 2014 6:39 PM

11 selections = ammunition and oh how the other 31 teams wished they could be in the 49er position for the 2014 NFL DRAFT !

Quinton Patton is highly underrated IMO, he had injury issues for much of the year but came on strong down the stretch. Crabtree, Boldin, Patton, Lloyd and a guy like Beckham would make for a very nice receiving corps.

mmsierra says:May 4, 2014 10:22 PM

Use a 3rd to trade up in the 1st for a CB (or maybe WR)
Use another 3rd to trade up to the top of the 2nd round CB or WR
Use a 4th to trade up in the 2nd again CB or WR
CB, WR, CB

dirtysouthniner says:May 4, 2014 10:31 PM

Who are these ton of guys u fans think we’re losing.. kap deal will get done,we got Smith for another year,we’ll talk to crabbs maybe franchise him,iupati while dominating is a guard and replaceable. I mean I wish there was a way to get guys back like a draft or something

History says Crabtree will be a tough renewal, especially if he’s still listening to Deion. However, it may well be that Kap with his rocket delivery, and willingness to take a chance may be the best QB in the league for Crab. His spin move and great hands are custom made for Kap’s quick delivery. Crab knows that a slower ball, like Alex Smith’s, gets him killed